Elkfest 2015 and the weekend

In the back of my mind, I associate Elkfest with my mom. She always made it a point to come up and attend the festival. I can still see her dancing in the street and clapping to the music. But that's in the past, and I'm trying to focus on the present. Making more memories and sharing good times with those I love.

So Friday, we took Xander and Kaleigh to the Safari Park just outside of Springfield and we all got up close and personal with a camel named Clyde and a few other critters. Xander doesn't care for anything with a long tongue and Kaleigh made really good friends with one of the apes.

Saturday evening Dad treated everyone to a marvelous dinner at Low Gap Cafe (the monster truck in the background belonged to Lauren's friend Scott). If I had known Dad was gonna pay, I might not have ordered the prime rib, but I don't regret it-it was that damn good. There was some live music-and fans blowing and the temperature was just right (sure wish Robyn could have been there-she would have loved it).

At Elkfest, there was a man selling sugar gliders. They are absolutely adorable. Very calm and soft, but at two hundred bucks a pop I really did not want one to become a chew toy for Oscar and Dixie. May be Cocker Spaniels wouldn't chew on them?

Fire works ended the Elk fest. Whistling Dixie was the final band, and they did a great "Newton County" version of Copperhead road.

Playing with paint apps

Fun in the Sun on a cloudy day

Posting some pictures from the weekend

Wonderlust

As I stare dreamily at the calendar, I can't help but notice I still have over 70 days until vacation. Maybe if I start packing now, I won't forget anything. I've already started making lists on what to pack, what to wear, snacks, things to do before the trip. I've already decided on getting 2 cards for the camera. I hope I get some good shots. These aren't mine, but it's a little preview. There's the skywalk of the Grand Canyon, one of the drive through trees in the Redwoods, the Golden Gate Bridge, and one of the waterfalls.

Connor's time... leaving the Nest

I get to watch my little sister see her son off to boot camp. I wish I had some wise words or something to make it easier for her, but I come up with nothing. She won't get to stand in his door way and watch him sleep. She won't fall asleep listening for his key in the lock. She won't know what or if he ate that day. She'll go days or maybe even months without seeing him and it will be one of the hardest things she's ever done. She's always been a lot tougher than me, but I know she loves her baby boy with every breath she takes. It doesn't matter that he's a man and half a head taller than she is-he'll always be her baby. She's done so much for him and taught him so well. There is no doubt that he'll do well. He'll make us all proud. Robyn should be proudest of all. Not because she gave him birth and not because she loves him more than anyone else, but because she gave him wings. He has the strength to spread those wings, the knowledge to know how, and the wind beneath them. There are grown people too afraid to live their dreams. Afraid to try and afraid to fail. The never leave their "nest" and they never learn to soar.

Rainy day letter

I know it's weird, but sometimes I clean to relax especially in the rain. It's rained ten of the last 14 days, so I'm cleaning in unusual places. My poor kids have known that if they should ever leave something out in the open-on the bed, a night stand,or what ever. I read the letter. Doesn't matter if it's marked personal or if it's addressed to me or not. I find it, I read it. Always have. So I ran across this letter in my mama's handwriting. Second strike-it's in mama's handwriting  so I'm definitely reading this sucker. I know it's addressed to Lauren, but I could swear she's talking to me too.

"Dear Lauren,
On your Mom's web page she mentioned your were sad about Grandma Marty. If you have time to read this let me tell you about my Grandma. She was my Dad's Mother like Marty is your Dad's Mom. My Grandma was more of a Mother to me than my mother or step mother ever were. She taught me how to cook and sew and lots of small things that only a mother usually does.
When I got the phone call she had passed away my heart was broken into a million pieces. When my uncle brought her back to Sheridan to be buried next to her husband, I really didn't think I could see her. I was so upset and scared to see someone who meant so much to me but as I walked up to her casket my tears were replaced by a smile. She looked so nice and had on the dress I had bought for her to wear to my wedding some 22 years earlier. It meant a lot to me that she had saved that dress for so many, many years. I managed to get through the pain and sadness of losing her because I had SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF HER ALL THROUGH MY LIFE. She was always there when I was young. I spent many summers with her and we always had a lot of good times.. She was there for me when I was married, she made my dress and cake. She was there when I had my first beautiful daughter-your mom! The wonderful memories of special times are something God gives us to help lessen the pain of losing them, but please believe that we will see our loved one again.
I know first hand how much Grandma Marty has always loved you. She has been so proud of you.
I know that YOU WILL BE UPSET BUT PLEASE ALWAYS KEEP ALL THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES YOU HAVE CLOSE TO YOUR HEART.

     All my love my precious Lauren,  I love you and could not be of   prouder of you.

Grandma"

In typical Mom fashion, it isn't dated. Lauren, sorry I'm not sorry I read it.

Eating a salad

Since February, we have been harvesting lettus. First out of the basement and currently out of the garden. For a while, Dwight and I had salads every Tuesday and Thursday but with all the damn rain we've had to change our schedule to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday salads so that we are not over run with lettus.
So let me tell you about my salad.
I like lettus but only if the pieces are small and have a great deal of dressing-Dwight has asked me not to put dressing on his salads because I drown the lettus. Not true. It swims.
I love the cucumbers. They sink.  I will tolerate the tomatoes because they float and it's fun to stab them. I like the radishes that we grew in the garden sliced so thinly you can see through them, but not the ones from the store. You can't put too much cheese or garlic croutons on the salad (again Dwight does not share this point of view).
It's mostly vegetables and it's not fried so I'm headed in the right direction. Unless you count the fried onions sprinkled on top, then I'm doomed.